﻿In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic and dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free

Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker's debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

Stargrace(Grade: A) It has been a while since I fell into a book as hard as I fell into this one. Wow. I don't even have the proper words to describe it. For a first time author I was INCREDIBLY impressed, and the book hit on so many of my personal key points that all I can do is say give it a read. Highly memorable characters, a richly detailed world, historical points, all of it was just so well done. The book is not "traditional" fantasy, but I would not let that stop you from giving this a read.

(Rated on Feb 13, 2014)

5

TK56(Grade: B) Set in New York in the late 1890's, this is not just a story about two people new to America, but two creatures new to being human. How Chava and Ahmad find and influence each other, and interpret human life from their very different perspectives, makes a unique and interesting story. If it drags a bit in the middle it's well worth hanging in there for the wonderful, thought-provoking finish.

(Rated on Jan 21, 2014)

5

Booklectic(Grade: A+) A beautifully woven tale of a Golem and Jinni, whose lives are inextricably twinned together, and the people who play a part in their lives (for good or evil). Some parts were slow and there is quite a cast of characters, but it is never boring and each character is so memorable you never have a difficult time keeping them straight. Fantastic!

(Rated on Feb 13, 2014)

4

Lopi(Grade: A) One of the best books I've read in a long time! It was slow going at the beginning but I read the last half within half a day! Gosh I need more. I could easily see this be a movie or a one season TV show.

(Rated on Jun 10, 2014)

4

smaz(Grade: B) An engaging read in which the two main characters are not humans, but rather learning what it means to be human.